The Pharisees accused Jesus of driving out demons by the power of Beelzebub (prince of demons). The Pharisees also drove out demons so they were in fact saying that they were also driving out demons from demonic power.
v. 17 Jesus said "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand?" Why would Satan want to drive out his own demons? He would not, there would be no profit in it if he did. A house divided will also fall. The divorce rate in America and probably around the world is that half of all marriages end in divorce. Whether it is a kingdom, government, marriage or business they all will fall if they are divided and can not come to an agreement.
v. 23 Jesus said "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me, scatters." There is no neutral ground here. You are either for God or the devil. I know that many would think that they are not believers but that they are not for the devil either. For those that do not like this you must bring it up with Jesus, since He is the one who said it! Since we know that God is the winning side (see Revelations). Why would we want to be on the losing side?
v. 24-26 "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first." The bible is full of stories of people doing this, they come to God then turn away. Then when enemies were coming against them they came back to God. It is not enough to be emptied of evil, we must be filled with the Holy Spirit and keep watch against the enemy.
When I was a teen I gave my life to Jesus. No one ever mentioned that when this happened the devil would attack with such fierceness that it sent me adrift in an ocean of darkness for may years. When you give your life to God beware for the devil is roaming the earth to seek someone to devour. He knows that if he can get you right after you give your life over then it will be so much easier to pull you away. Your roots are not set in solid ground yet at this point. Do not let the devil in once you have turned to God, for he may over stay his welcome for decades to come.
v. 27-28 A woman called out "blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you." Jesus responded "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." The family line was extremely important in that time period. There ancestors proved that they were part of God's chosen people. A man's value came from his ancestors and a woman's value came from the sons she bore. Jesus showed that was not the case anymore. A person's obedience to God was more important than where they were on the family tree.
Many here God's word, but how many truly obey Him?
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